Radio spots for the week of 08/22/10.  Broadcast on KKOY, KALN, KKOW, KINZ, and KIND

Topic #1 

Technology and quality of life; with the convenience come a few hazards.  For example, did you know that 70,000 kids each year go to emergency rooms for injuries and complications from medical devices?  Yes, and the leading medical device, surprise, surprise, is the contact lens.    Most of us would think that medical device injury would be more for chronically ill kids who are treated at home, with such devices as ventilators, or having to receive IV fluids or medications, or problems with feeding tubes.  But in a report from the journal, Pediatrics, from 100 hospitals over a 2 year period, the most common single ER visit for medical device injury was for those from contact lenses, usually for infections and eye scratches.  Take home message:  these are preventable and are due to wearing the contact lenses too long without cleaning them.  The other common problems with medical devices included puncture wounds from hypodermic needles breaking off in the skin while injecting medicine or illegal drug use, infections in young children with ear tubes, and skin tears from pelvic devices used during gynecological exams in teen girls.  Other injuries that were more serious, involved implanted devices like brain shunts, chest catheters for cancer patients who receive chemotherapy at home, and insulin pumps for diabetics.  Infections and overdoses were among problems with these.  While some of these other categories can be due to user problems, like improper care or cleaning, some of these injuries are unavoidable; but not so with the contact lens issue.  So, this discussion is just a reminder to check in with your kids who wear contact lenses to be sure they are changing them and cleaning them as suggested by their eye doctor.  Help your kids learn how to make technology work for them, instead of against them.  Give that kid a hug, I’m Dr. Greta McFarland

Topic #2

Not so trick question:  what do your toddlers and family pets have in common?  Well, there is the mess thing, but putting stuff in the mouth that doesn’t belong there, is what we will discuss today.  A study from the FDA showed that dry pet food may be a silent and great media for that nasty bacteria, salmonella.  There were 79 people in 21 eastern states who got sick with salmonella between 2006 and 2008, with almost half being 2 years old or less.  At least 6 unrelated pet food recalls have been issued this year by manufacturers because of possible salmonella contamination.  The outbreak 2 to 4 years ago included a dog and cat dry food, from one plant.  Now, the researchers weren’t sure whether kids got sick from eating the pet food, or from touching the affected animals or the dirty pet food dishes.  Interestingly, there were no reports of the animals becoming sick, though stool samples from the pets that had eaten the infected food, did show salmonella.   The symptoms for salmonella in people include bloody diarrhea and fever.  I bring this to your attention, for several reasons.  1) This is rare, and so not something to worry about.  2) Pets are a wonderful addition to the family, and kids can learn a lot from a pet – so don’t get rid of Tabby or Fido.  3) Most of this can be avoided with a few simple cleanliness routines.  Just wash hands after contact with pets, pet food and pet bowls.  Routinely clean pet food bowls and feeding areas.  Keep young children away from pet feeding areas, since they aren’t good at washing hands before putting everything to the mouth.  And avoid cleaning the pet dishes in a sink or tub where the baby may take a bath.  Be sure the most important thing your pets and kids have in common, is your desire to provide a good life for them.  Give that kid a hug, I’m Dr. Greta McFarland.

Topic #3

Goodness gracious…(mumble)…where are those keys?  Oh…sorry about that; I’m having trouble with my short term memory; can’t seem to find…what was it again?  Well, just read an article on the subject and it has to do with your child’s brain development, especially memory issues.  Being low on iron can cause iron-deficiency anemia and yet another study has shown this can persist in later life.  This study of 49 infants was published in the journal, Pediatrics.  They looked at children 9 and 12 months of age, with lab tests for low iron, and with several developmental tests.  The kids lowest in iron had more problems with short term memory and with social interactions.  Other studies show similar concerns, which is why it is suggested to test the hemoglobin level between 6 months and a year.  Some authorities think we should be doing more in-depth tests besides just the hemoglobin, but we are waiting for studies to demonstrate this and give us good guidelines.  We do know that children who are breast fed are usually lower in iron than infants who drink iron fortified formula.  It is true that breast fed infants do absorb iron more effectively than formula fed babies, but if the iron isn’t there to absorb, that may not provide enough.  For this reason it is recommended to give breast fed infants a multivitamin with iron and as you remember from other discussions, we suggest Vitamin D in it, as well.  So, if your doctor suggests doing a blood test for low iron, have it done.  Checking for lead at the same time isn’t a bad idea, either, as lead can cause developmental problems, also.  Short term memory; the more of that your child can have, the better.  Hey, maybe he can remember where he last played with your keys, or better yet, maybe he can remember where you distractedly put them.  In any event, give that kid a hug, and a diet full of iron.  I’m Dr. Greta McFarland.